The benefits and perks of being a substitute teacher. 

Interested in becoming a substitute teacher? If you enjoy working with students and would like a flexible schedule, this may be the role for you. There are many benefits and perks of being a substitute teacher—scheduling options, extra income, making a difference, and enhancing your skills.

There are also perks that come with working for Kelly Education, including access to health and wellness benefits. In this article, we outline how these topics factor into working as a substitute teacher: 

• Flexible schedule 
• Ease of entry 
• A sense of purpose 
• Make connections 
• No two days are alike 
• Enhance skills  

Flexible schedule. 

As a substitute teacher, you have control over your schedule, so you can choose when you work and when you don’t. Let’s say you’re in college to become a teacher or for another career path. Substitute teacher jobs allow you the flexibility to work around your school schedule.  

Need to care for a family member or schedule a doctor appointment? Love to travel as a retiree? No worries. No worries. You can schedule days, weeks, or months in advance. Many school districts even have apps that make it easy to schedule the days you’re available to work and the days you aren’t. 

Ease of entry. 

Though every state and district vary in the level of substitute teacher requirements you must meet to get into the classroom, you typically don’t need specialized training or experience to get started. You might need some college education or a degree for some school districts. However, many states only require you to have a high school diploma or equivalent. Check out our article about substitute teacher requirements in your state. 

Any state-mandated training required to substitute teach is offered during the hiring process. At Kelly Education, regardless of the state’s requirements, we require all our substitute teachers to complete free training before they ever step foot in a classroom. 

A sense of purpose. 

Many people decide to start substitute teaching because they see it as a way to serve the greater good, make a difference, meet a higher purpose, and give back to the community. As a substitute teacher, you’ll help shape the minds of young people, ensure education continues when teachers are out, and even inspire students by being a role model. 

Make connections. 

When you substitute teach, you meet and interact with other teachers and administrative staff at the schools where you work. Many of our substitute teachers make life-long friends. Others make professional connections that help them land a full-time teaching or education-related job. 

Different experiences. 

Very few substitute teachers would likely say their jobs are boring. Substitute teachers say no two days are alike. Though the overarching substitute teacher duties and responsibilities don’t change, the classrooms, subjects, and students you teach do. You can even teach at different schools within your approved district, which continuously exposes you to new people and experiences. 

Enhanced skills. 

There are many skills needed to substitute teach. This includes communication, presentation skills, writing, organization, and time management. These are just some skills that are transferable to other professions. And, if your goal is to become a full-time teacher, you’re building your teaching skills. 

Access to benefits through Kelly Education. 

Most school districts hire substitute teachers on a part-time or per diem basis. This means they don’t provide benefits and perks. If you need benefits, that‘s not great news. That’s just one of the reasons school districts ask Kelly Education to be their partner in hiring substitute teachers. We offer optional benefits to the individuals we place in substitute educator roles. These include: 

• Kelly-sponsored ACA health coverage 
• Vision coverage 
• Dental coverage 
• Telemedicine 
• Short-term disability 
• Critical illness coverage 
• Life insurance 
• Accident insurance 
• Holiday pay plan 
• Corporate discounts 
• Complimentary employee well-being program 
• Weekly pay

With Kelly Education, you also benefit from working with industry experts who can answer your questions and guide you on your career journey as a substitute educator. 

Are you ready to start your substitute teaching career? 

Are you wondering, where are the substitute teacher jobs near me? Fill out our brief interest form and one of our Kelly Education recruiters will contact you to answer your questions and share more about opportunities to become a substitute teacher with one of our school district partners. 

I’m interested